§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on his policy in respect of further vertical integration in the electricity industry; and if he will make a statement. [54001]
§ Mr. Battle[holding answer 31 July 1998]: Decisions on company structure in the electricity sector are commercial matters subject to any restrictions imposed through licences and, in the case of mergers, to consideration under the provisions of the Fair Trading Act 1973.
§ Mr. Ian BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the reforms which the Government propose to make to the price-setting mechanism for the pool price of electricity. [54462]
§ Mr. Battle[holding answer 31 July 1998]: The Director General of Electricity Supply published his Report on the Review of Electricity Trading 865W Arrangements on 29 July. I shall need to consider the proposals he has put forward before deciding what action to take.
§ Mr. BoswellTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the anticipated demand for new electricity generation capacity, taking account of granted consents and anticipated retirement of coal-fired and Magnox plant. [54893]
§ Mr. BattleRetirement of all existing coal, oil, or nuclear plant will be a commercial matter for its owners, subject to approval by the regulator who may require it to be offered for sale. Need for new plant will depend on retirement decisions as well as on future demand for electricity.
§ Mr. Ian BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what target he has set for the proportion of electricity to be produced from renewable sources following the Kyoto agreement. [54823]
§ Mr. BattleThe Government are committed to a new and strong drive to develop renewable energy sources in line with our manifesto commitment. To this end, I am reviewing policy towards new and renewable sources of energy, including consideration of what would be necessary and practicable to achieve 10 per cent. of UK electricity needs from renewables by the year 2010, and how renewables can make an effective contribution to meeting our national and international commitments for future greenhouse gas reductions. The review, which is nearing completion, is examining the status of all the new and renewable energy technologies in the UK industry, and their future prospects in both home and export markets. It is also considering what further research, development, and demonstration is needed for the longer term. I expect to announce the outcome of the review later this year.